Panda-Monium: Sandoval clubs 3 homers as Giants take WS Game 1

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants weren't about to
experience another slow start. Pablo Sandoval made sure of it.

The All-Star slugger tied a World Series record by socking three home runs as
the Giants gained the upper hand in the 2012 Fall Classic with a convincing 8-
3 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 from AT&T Park.

Sandoval delivered a solo homer off Justin Verlander in the bottom of the
first inning, a two-run blast against the Detroit ace in the third, and
connected off reliever Al Alburquerque in the fifth to become only the third
player in World Series history to go deep three times in a single game -- and
first to do so in his first three at-bats.

The third baseman, who finished 4-for-4 with four RBI, joins some very select
company, with Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols the only ones to
previously accomplish the feat. Ruth did it in both the 1926 and '28 World
Series, Jackson in the 1977 edition and Pujols during the St. Louis
Cardinals' victory over the Texas Rangers in last year's Game 3.

Marco Scutaro, the MVP of the Giants' come-from-behind triumph over the
Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, kept up his own torrid
hitting by collecting two singles and two RBI, while Barry Zito and Tim
Lincecum helped maintain the momentum by teaming up for eight strong innings.

Zito (1-0) held the Tigers to one run on six hits and a walk over the first 5
2/3 frames, with Lincecum striking out five over 2 1/3 perfect innings after
taking over for his fellow former Cy Young Award recipient.

San Francisco had dropped its opener in both the NLDS and NLCS and advanced by
staving off elimination a remarkable six times in those two series, including
a 9-0 victory over St. Louis on Monday that gave the Giants the league
pennant.

Detroit, on the other hand, swept the scuffling New York Yankees in the ALCS
and had not played since last Thursday. The Tigers seemed to feel the effects
of the extended layoff, falling behind 6-0 after five innings and receiving a
subpar stint from Verlander (0-1).

The 2011 AL MVP lasted just four innings in his shortest outing of the season
and was tagged for five runs and six hits.

Jhonny Peralta had a two-run homer for Detroit, which had won five in a row
dating back to Game 5 of the ALDS, with Austin Jackson and ALCS hero Delmon
Young each contributing two hits in a losing cause.

Game 2 will take place Thursday in San Francisco, with Madison Bumgarner
getting the call for the Giants and the Tigers countering with Doug Fister.